OREM, Utah — Payge Armendariz had a career day at the plate and Halle Morris pitched her third-straight complete game to lead Utah Valley (14-17, 8-3 WAC) to a doubleheader sweep over the Seattle U Redhawks (14-21, 6-5 WAC) on Tuesday afternoon at Wolverine Softball Field.
The Wolverines led wire to wire in both games, propelled by a pair of three-run first innings. UVU took game one 14-9 before pulling away for a 7-2 win in game two. With the wins, Utah Valley moves into sole possession of second place in the WAC standings, just a game back of first place GCU.
Armendariz — who also got the win in game one — went a combined 4-for-4 with a home run, three doubles, three walks, and nine RBIs between the two games. Six of those RBIs came in the opener.
Morris went the distance for the third-consecutive start, allowing two ER and striking out three. Morris also was a key contributor at the dish, going a combined 2-for-5 with a double, three walks, and three RBIs.
"Payge has been working her way into the lineup, and for her to go off like that is pretty remarkable," said head coach Cody Thomson. "Halle's been helping us win ball games. If she can keep the ball down and we can make some plays, we're going to win lots of games."
Amber Rodriguez had another solid day out of the leadoff spot, going 5-for-8 with four runs scored. Thomson praised Rodriguez's ability to get on base as being a catalyst for the early inning rallies.
GAME ONE
Utah Valley blitzed the Redhawks for three runs in the first and five in the second. Armendariz roped a bases-clearing double down the right field line to bring in all three first-inning runs.
Three straight singles in the second immediately put the pressure back on Seattle U. Morris brought in the first run on a sacrifice fly, then Megan Gibbs hit a double over the center fielder's head to bring home the other two runners. Armendariz then hit a nearly-identical double down the right field line to bring home Gibbs. Mya Higareda brought home Armendariz two batters later with a double to left center.
The Redhawks would not go away quietly, scoring three runs in the top of the third. UVU answered back with three runs of its own in the fourth to make it 11-3.
After a one-out walk by Gibbs, Armendariz hit her third double of the day — this one to left center — to bring home Gibbs. Angelique Mann reached on an error by the shortstop that allowed pinch runner Libbie Hawker to score. Mann would later come around to score on a passed ball.
Once again, Seattle U bounced back from the brink to put up four runs in the top of the fifth, staving off what would've been a run-rule defeat. UVU answered with a run of its own in the bottom half, courtesy of a sac fly by Armendariz that brought in Ry Binne.
The Wolverines tacked on two more in the sixth to push the lead up to seven. Britney Moreno came inches away from her second home run of the season, but had to settle for an RBI double that brought in Laynee Betancur. Moreno was then driven home on a pinch-hit single by Rachael Brown.
Seattle U put up two in the seventh following a Wolverine error, but UVU would hold on for the 14-9 win. Avery Sapp pitched the final three innings to earn the save, and allowed one ER while striking out two.
GAME TWO
The second game was more of a pitcher's duel, as the Redhawks' Avari Morris bounced back from a rough first inning to put up four-straight zeroes. Halle Morris was only roughed up in one inning, as Seattle U tagged her for two in the fifth.
The Wolverines rallied for three in the first once again, this time with some station-to-station softball. Rodriguez and Binne singled before Gibbs reached on an error to load the bases. Armendariz then turned a nine-pitch battle into a bases-loaded walk to bring in Rodriguez. Mann then hit a single that karomed off the pitcher to drive in Binne. Betancur then hit another single off the pitcher to score Gibbs.
UVU and Seattle U traded zeroes until the fifth when the Redhawks turned two walks into two runs to make it 3-2.
The Wolverines put up some much-needed insurance runs in the sixth to pull away. Halle Morris roped a double to left center that scored two, then Armendariz blasted her first home run of the season to plate another two.
Halle Morris then shut the door in the seventh with a little help from the defense. With runners on the corners, a grounder was hit to Binne at short, who stepped on the bag at second and threw to first for the double play.
UP NEXT
Utah Valley hosts another tough opponent this weekend in the California Baptist Lancers, who are just a half game behind the Wolverines in the WAC standings. Due to expected inclement weather, first pitch of Friday's doubleheader has been moved up to 2 p.m. MT. Saturday's series finale is still scheduled for 12 p.m. MT. All three games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
